The Tomb of Qian Yuanyao and His Family

The Tomb of Qian Yuanyao and His Family

The Tomb of Qian Yuanyao and His Family is a cultural relic protection unit of Suzhou City.

The tomb of Qian Yuanyao is located in Qizi Village, Mudu Town, Wuxian, in Jiulongwu, Hengshan.

Qian Yuanyao was originally named Chuan Yao and styled as Dehui. He was the sixth son (some say fourth) of Qian Liu, the King Wusu of the Wuyue Kingdom. During the Five Dynasties period, various regional powers vied for dominance, among which the Qian family of Wuyue was one of the stronger factions. Qian Liu, who declared himself king over thirteen prefectures and established his capital in Hangzhou, appointed his sons to guard different territories. He assigned Qian Yuanyao as the Military Governor of Zhongwu, tasked with defending Suzhou. Later, Qian Yuanyao was also granted titles such as the Censor-in-Chief, Chancellor, and Prince of Guangling. After Qian Yuanyao’s death, his son Qian Wenfeng succeeded him. Father and son ruled Suzhou for over sixty years, constructing water conservancy projects, encouraging land reclamation, and implementing many policies favorable to production. These efforts led to significant advancements in agriculture and handicrafts at the time, boosting the economic prosperity of the Suzhou region.

Qian Yuanyao died in the seventh year of the Tianfu era of the Later Jin Dynasty (942) at the age of 56. He is buried here along with his wife Lady Yang and son Qian Wenfeng. The tomb originally had stone statues of officials and animals, as well as stelae erected in the 16th year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty by Jiangsu Governor Zhang Xi, Qian family descendant and Ministry of Rites official Qian Yue, Anhui Governor Qian Kai, and Provincial Administration Commissioner Qian Yong. None of these remain today, and only slightly elevated burial mounds are left, with the tomb chambers still intact.

In March 1979, during construction work by a military unit, another brick tomb was discovered to the west of Qian Yuanyao’s tomb, on Zhujia Mountain. The tomb chamber is quite large, measuring 14.34 meters in total length, and consists of a front, middle, and rear chamber, with side chambers on both sides of the middle chamber. Over 100 artifacts were unearthed, including gold-rimmed celadon bowls, gilded silver boxes, gilded jade ornaments, as well as eight copper and eight pottery figurines each. This site is believed to be the tomb of a noble from the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties period, closely associated with the Qian family.

Qian Yuanyao (887–942), styled Dehui, was a native of Qiantang (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang). Originally named Qian Chuan Yao, he was the sixth son of Qian Liu, the King Wusu of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, and the elder brother of King Wenmu Qian Yuangui. His mother was Lady Wu, the Queen of Solemnity. His full brothers included Qian Chuan Ying, Qian Chuan Suo, Qian Chuan Jing, and Qian Yuanlin.

Qian Yuanyao (887–942), styled Dehui, was a native of Qiantang (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang). Originally named Qian Chuan Yao, he was the sixth son of Qian Liu, the King Wusu of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, and the elder brother of King Wenmu Qian Yuangui. His mother was Lady Wu, the Queen of Solemnity. His full brothers included Qian Chuan... More details about Qian Yuanyao++